Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
January 28, 2026 Humanitarian aid
Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), held a briefing on Wednesday, informing journalists that aid to the people of Gaza is increasing despite numerous obstacles.
According to Cherevko, nearly 200,000 tons of humanitarian aid have been delivered to the Strip since the ceasefire. Food aid reaches over a million people monthly, and 1.6 million Gazans receive hot meals daily.
Dozens of medical centers have reopened and hundreds of temporary teaching spaces have been created. However, as the OCHA representative emphasized, these achievements remain fragile, and the gap between the population's needs and the capacity to safely and sustainably deliver aid remains enormous.
Shelling and cold
The situation on the ground, she continued, remains extremely dire. Continued airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire are killing and wounding civilians. Harsh winter weather is claiming the lives of children.
Most Palestinians in Gaza live in conditions of forced displacement and extremely difficult living conditions. The approaching month of Ramadan, traditionally a time of joy and reflection for Muslims, will be marked by the consequences of the recent war for many residents of the Strip.
Restrictions on NGO activities
According to Cherevko, humanitarian organizations are facing serious restrictions in their operations. Essential supplies of medical supplies, tools and materials for housing repairs, equipment for rubble clearing, and spare parts remain strictly restricted. Communication disruptions complicate coordination and emergency response. Damage to roads, warehouses, water supply systems, and medical facilities limits the ability to store and distribute aid.
People in overcrowded shelters and makeshift tents are barely surviving, and further heavy rains threaten to destroy their shelters. According to Cherevko, the suffering could be alleviated more quickly and on a larger scale if current restrictions were lifted.
The OCHA representative emphasized that there is no need to create new aid mechanisms now; the obstacles hindering the work of humanitarian organizations must be removed. Among the key conditions, she cited safe access to the Strip, the lifting of restrictions on supplies, including dual-use goods, the establishment of secure travel routes within Gaza, sustainable funding, and support for early recovery.
"Don't be indifferent to pain"
Cherevko emphasized that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not inevitable: aid can save countless lives, but only if obstacles to aid delivery are removed. Every delay, refusal, or interruption intensifies the suffering of civilians. She also called for "not indifference to the pain of those currently suffering" and to prevent Gaza from becoming a secondary concern amid other global crises.
"The aid is ready [for dispatch]. Supplies are available. Workers are on the ground. Every minute counts," the OCHA representative concluded.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.